News Archives Aug. 7, 2012

Former First Lady Laura Bush returned to one of her "favorite parts of the world" Friday (Aug. 3) to urge a widespread message of conservation.

"Our ecological system is fragile," she said. "It needs us to take care of it."

Mrs. Bush, the founder of Taking Care of Texas, participated in a conservation briefing at Alpine’s Holland Hotel with several organizations, co-hosted by the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University. Also participating in the briefing, titled "Taking Care of the Trans-Pecos" were representatives from the Texas Agricultural Land Trust (co-host), Texas Bighorn Society, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Wildlife Association.

During her opening remarks, the former First Lady cited the need for state conservation organizations to work together with private landowners to spread the word of conservation.

"If we can all work together along with private landowners, we can broaden our reach," she said.

Dr. Louis Harveson, BRI director, and Dr. Neal Wilkins of the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources at Texas A&M University, both expressed the major role that private landowners play in conservation efforts across Texas.

"Private landowners are carrying the load. They are making this part of the world special," said Harveson, adding that collaboration of private landowners and conservation organizations are necessary to make programs successful.

Wilkins noted that in the Trans-Pecos region, about 2,000 individual operators own 16.3 million acres of private ranchland. Of this number, 600 operators own ranches of 2,000 acres or larger.

"Ninety percent of private lands are in the large operator class," he said. "The (conservation) decisions made by 600 owners have a major effect on the biological health of this region."

Wilkins added that "a relatively small number of decision makers have to convince (the public) to carry out land management practices that benefit the whole region."

After the opening remarks by Mrs. Bush, Harveson, and Wilkins, a panel discussion was held. Carter Smith, executive director of Texas Parks and Wildlife, moderated the panel that included Harveson and members of the other participating organizations.

Two major themes were water – availability and management – and stopping the trend of large ranch fragmentation. According to Wilkins, about 36,000 acres of ranchland are lost to residential development annually in the Trans-Pecos.

"Large ranches are necessary and we’re getting chopped up," said Harveson. "We need large ranches to stay together; they are the best chance for effective conservation."

Harveson and Gary Joiner, CEO of the Texas Wildlife Association, both expressed the need for funding to assist private landowners in their conservation efforts.

"Trust the landowner and give him the tools to stay on the land," Joiner said.

"Water, water, water," said Jon Means, a Fort Davis area rancher and former president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

"We have to look at production agriculture. We do have the resources to feed the world and we have to have the water to do so," he said. "Ninety-six percent of the people in the world live outside the United States...and we cannot feed these people without water.

"This is a fragile landscape and we need (to implement) practices to better conserve and use water," Means said.

Representatives of wildlife organizations also stressed the need for water availability and use management, as well as preserving habitat.

Blair Fitzsimons, executive director of the Texas Agricultural Land Trust, said, "the fragmentation issue is facing the Trans-Pecos and landowners everywhere....We need to do a better job of articulating public benefits of private land."

"If you’re buying seed and paying $200-$300 an acre, you want to have success," she said. "It is necessary to find out what will work."

Mrs. Bush, again citing the broad consortium of conservation groups active throughout the state, said, "we want you to tell us of successful projects...so we can know what to do, whether (working with) large properties or just a backyard.

"Our goal is to have a very broad reach through existing conservation efforts," she added.

"Sharing our challenges can bring attention to the rest of Texas," said Harveson.

"The majority of the (conservation) work is driven by love and passion and a sense of duty. (Mrs. Bush) can help us bring attention to this effort and help take the message from country to the city."

–0o0–

SUL ROSS HOSTS SUMMER COMMENCEMENT AUG. 11

A total of 146 students are candidates for degrees during Saturday, Aug. 11 summer commencement exercises at Sul Ross State University. Ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. in the Pete P. Gallego Center.

Dr. Fernando Gomez, Vice Chancellor and general counsel of the Texas State University System, will deliver the address at Sul Ross State University’s summer commencement exercises Saturday, Aug. 11.

Steven Bennack, lecturer in Music, will play the processional, "Pomp and Circumstance," and the recessional, "Postlude in G Major." Dr. Lorie Rubenser, associate professor of Criminal Justice, will be the mace bearer. Dr. Avinash Rangra, professor of Chemistry, and Dr. Chester Sample, professor of Physical Education, will serve as marshals.

Brian McCall, Chancellor of the Texas State University System, will introduce Gomez.

Sul Ross President Dr. Ricardo Maestas will deliver the welcome and confer degrees. Dr. Esther Rumsey, professor of Communication, will give the invocation. Recognition and honors will be announced by Dr. Quint Thurman, Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. Dr. Donald Freed, associate professor of Music, will lead the singing of "God Bless America" and "Alma Mater."

He attained tenure at Michigan State University before serving as assistant attorney general in Michigan and in Texas and as general counsel of the California State University System. Gomez is a member of the Texas, California and Michigan bars and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts.

He has authored three books, consulted and lectured extensively on higher education, educational leadership, ethics and legal topics throughout the U.S. and overseas, including Cuba and Yemen.

In December 2011, Texas Review Press published "A Texas State of Mind," a pictorial history edited by Gomez. The book commemorated the Texas State University System, its colleges and universities in celebration of the System’s centennial year.